LRM wrote : Are you up to your ears in flood waters? Just a little concerned.
L
LRM,
and others.
No, I am some 900 miles (1300-1400 km) south, but I have some "vested interests". Our two daughters reside close to the Brisbane CBD.
If you've seen visuals of a wheel akin to the London "Eye", the city central is directly across the river.
The wheel has been built within the locale of the 1988 World Expo know as Southbank, a very pleasant and relaxing place to visit (Oh! Full of culture too!).
One daughter is about 1 1/2 mile (2km) to the east, and the other who actually works a few blocks from the wheel (by odd coincidence is also on holidays), lives about 4 miles (7km) to the west. Both reside higher than the anticipated flood level, can move reasonably safely within their own area but unable to physically visit.
The human toll is signicantly lower than it might have been, in particular Toowoomba.
In all, estimates suggest something like a 20% impact on the national economy; food, tourism and exports balanced against insurance payouts and welfare. Americans can certainly understand this in relation to twister disasters although the death toll from flood is usually low.
In 1974 "Santa never made it into Darwin". A now retired Maj-Gen Cosgrove compiled a manual after that event, which alongside lessons learnt from our Victorian bushfires (wildfires) of last year, has apparently been instrumental in the relatively smooth proceedings of these operations; governments do take notice (sometimes).
Sure, there will be big questions asked later, may be some answers never possible, but the Premier of Queensland is being seen as a level headed stalwart (certainly emotional at times) as she heads the team for which she is ultimately responsible.
Yes, I'm safe but my State looks to be confronted with some flooding but as of tonight the weather pattern seems to be shifting.
There will clearly be other Aussies who will see your thoughts and feel some comfort that the World has some recognition of other citizens.
Thanks.